Page 73

“Are you not Lady Elizabeth’s maid?” he asked.

“Aye, my lord.”

“How is her ladyship?”

“She is well.”

“Not crying to be let out?”

“Nay, my lord.”

He sighed. “She is a brave woman. Perhaps she will be glad to see me.”

Elizabeth wished she could snort her response to that.

“Has she given her situation thought? After all, she was silly enough to think she could run this estate by herself.”

Without thinking, she responded, “She did so for six months, my lord.”

Milburn broke his usual impassive expression to gape at her.

But Bannaster only laughed. “Aye, mayhap she did. Or mayhap her people helped more than she knew.”

Elizabeth curtsied and moved on to the next hungry man before she could get herself in real trouble.

John was not invited to eat with the viscount. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him retreat to the hearth and prop his leg up as if it pained him.

Her outspokenness had earned her the interest of Bannaster. While he ate, he watched her occasionally, and she did not like the interest in his gaze. He drank too much throughout the meal, and as the day wore on, he continued to drink. Never once did he mention his audience with the king. He was far too jovial at supper, and tried to entertain the occupants of the hall with the great deeds of the noblemen at court.

They all sounded like pompous fools to Elizabeth. She hid her thoughts, even as she was getting better at hiding herself from the viscount’s gaze. She was trying not to get her hopes up that he stayed away from the tower because he hadn’t been successful in his quest.

But early in the evening, as the torches were being lit and the supper dishes were removed, Bannaster slammed his tankard down and rose to his feet. He swayed precariously, caught his balance, and announced to the hall, “Now I go to see your mistress.”

After exchanging glances with John, Elizabeth ran ahead to reach the tower before Bannaster did.

The two soldiers frowned at her. “You do not bring Lady Elizabeth a meal?” said Bannaster’s man.

She had forgotten. And it was too late to turn back now, for she could hear Bannaster’s loud, off-key whistle as he approached.

“Tonight I thought to ask her preference,” she said. “Might I be let up?”

But the soldier, glancing over her head, came to attention, and Alderley’s soldier did as well, though with obvious reluctance.

It was too late for Elizabeth to warn Anne. She turned to face Bannaster, but he merely looked over her head at the soldiers.

“Has anyone dared to defy the guards I placed here while I was gone?” Bannaster asked.

“Nay, milord,” said his soldier.

“’Tis good. I shall go up to speak with her.”

“My lord,” Elizabeth said, drawing his gaze, “I need to come with you.”

“Nay, what is between my lady and me is private.” He gave her a bleary grin.

“But my lord, you cannot see her alone. How will it look to her people—to your people?” she added for his benefit.

“But I care not who⁠—”